Trustees Ask for Local Control in Walker's Budget

Last week, the Whitefish Bay Village Board approved a non-partisan resolution proposing that Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed biennial budget be altered to allow local municipalities to control their own tax levy.

Walker's budget proposal cuts state aid to local municipalities and bars local governments from raising property taxes, except as occurs with new construction. The village, however, has little room for growth, and is poised to lose roughly $322,000 in state aid, according to Interim Village Manager Matt Schuenke. He said his calculations show the benefit reductions allowed in Walker’s budget repair bill would .

The board considered adopting a resolution at , but trustees requested the resolution be reworded to emphasize the desire for more local control. Trustee Thomas Fehring proposed an alternative resolution at the meeting that was adopted by the board with a 6-1 vote.

Trustee James Roemer cast the sole dissenting vote, saying a resolution would not have any effect on the outcome of the budget, and the board’s time would be better spent lobbying Sen. Alberta Darling or Rep. Sandy Pasch to influence their vote.

Village President Kathleen Pritchard said it is not uncommon for Whitefish Bay and other municipalities to adopt resolutions on legislation affecting them, and she said she has invited both Darling and Pasch to come speak to the board about the impact of Walker’s budget. She said Pasch would be willing to come speak to the board if it is placed on an upcoming Village Board agenda, and Darling said she was still in the process of reading the bill.